UNHCR Global Appeal 1999 - Djibouti

Provide protection and multi-sectoral assistance to Somali, Ethiopian and other refugees residing in the two camps and to those in Djibouti-ville.

Who we help

Some 21,000 refugees accommodated in Ali-Ade (11,000) and Holl-Holl (10,000) refugee camps. Most of the refugees in the camps are of Somali origin (20,000); the remainder (1,000) are from Ethiopia. Some of the nearly 2,000 refugees living in Djibouti-ville also receive assistance from UNHCR.

Since the early 1980s, the civil war in Somalia has prompted thousands of people to leave the country. Many of those from the north-west of the country sought refuge in Djibouti. Initially, Somali refugees were accommodated in three refugee camps: Assamo, Ali-Ade, and Holl-Holl. Assamo camp was closed in April 1998 after the 5,000 Somali refugees living there were transferred to the two other camps. As the camps are located in a rocky and semi-desert area that supports little, if any, crop production, the refugees are wholly dependent on external support for food.

Although north-west Somalia is now relatively peaceful, refugees have been reluctant to return for fear of landmines that may have been planted in returnee areas in the north of Somaliland. The extent of the mining is unknown. Nonetheless, at least 450 refugees who came from other parts of north-west Somalia have registered for voluntary repatriation. Some Ethiopian refugees living dispersed in urban areas have requested UNHCR's assistance with voluntary repatriation.

Djibouti is proud of its seaport which forms part of Djibouti-ville. The port handles import and export commodities for landlocked Ethiopia. This is the main revenue-generating enterprise for the Government as agriculture production is minimal. Most of the fresh produce consumed in Djibouti arrives by train from Ethiopia. The inter-dependent link between the two countries is clear. It is therefore not surprising that refugees from Ethiopia find their way to Djibouti, as well. Given the country's scarce resources, the Government is often uncomfortable with an influx of foreigners who then compete with nationals for those meagre resources. Asylum- seekers are not exempt from this categorization; so periodically UNHCR is called upon to help relocate urban-dwelling foreigners whom the Government classifies as "refugees", to designated refugee camps.

Protection

UNHCR is promoting voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees to north-west Somalia. This programme is hampered, however, by the delays in demining activities in the returnee areas. Resettlement is also considered an option for some refugees. Women have been resettled under the women-at-risk programme in the United States of America, Canada and Australia.

Though Djibouti has been a country of asylum for Ethiopian and Somali refugees for more than two decades, the economic difficulties it faces today render it incapable of adequately accommodating significant numbers of asylum- seekers. Even those asylum-seekers with family or clan members living in Djibouti can no longer depend on their relations' assistance. UNHCR is therefore negotiating the revitalization of the National Eligibility Commission to expedite status determination procedures for asylum-seekers and determine who should benefit from UNHCR's assistance.

Assistance

All basic services, including food, water, education, health care, skills training, and are provided to the refugee camps under UNHCR's assistance programme.

Women and Children

The number of available places in the camps' primary schools has been increased to accommodate the growing number of school-aged children in the camps. Many of the children who have completed their primary education want to repatriate to north-west Somalia to continue their studies.

Refugee women have organized women's committees in which information useful to the entire refugee community is disseminated. Women groups have also started sewing and knitting classes. Trained birth attendants are the backbone of the community-health extension service in the camps and are essential to maternal and child health programmes. UNHCR, through its operating partners Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) and Office National d'Assistance aux Réfugiés et Sinistrés (ONARS), ensures that the birth of refugee children are registered.

Risks

An interruption in assistance to the camp refugees, even for one month, could result in a humanitarian disaster. Isolated in inhospitable conditions, the camps are completely dependent on continued assistance.

Alerting donors, organizations and individuals to the plight of millions of uprooted people.

The Gulf of Aden: Sharp Rise in Crossings and Deaths

The number of people arriving on the coast of Yemen after being smuggled across the treacherous Gulf of Aden from the Horn of Africa has more than doubled this year. So far this year, more than 18,000 people have arrived in Yemen across the Gulf of Aden, and nearly 400 have died attempting the journey.

This surge in arrivals is largely due to the continuing conflict in Somalia and the use of new smuggling routes from Somalia to Yemen and across the Red Sea from Djibouti. Many of the new arrivals also tell of crop losses due to drought, which forced them to leave home. This photo set focuses on those people leaving from Djibouti.

UNHCR has been calling for increased action to save lives in the Gulf of Aden and other waters. We have stepped up our work in Yemen under a US$17 million operation that includes extra staff, provision of additional shelter and assistance, and protection for refugees and internally displaced people.

Posted on 20 May 2008

The Gulf of Aden: Sharp Rise in Crossings and Deaths

Kuwaiti Funds Provide Vital Medical Aid for Syrians in Lebanon

As the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon continues to grow, ensuring access to quality health care is becoming an increasing challenge for humanitarian aid groups and the international community. So, Kuwait's unprecedented donation in April of US$110 million for UNHCR's Syria crisis operations this year came at a most opportune time. Slightly more than 40 per cent of the amount has been used to fund programmes in Lebanon, including the provision of vital - and often life-saving - medical care. In the following photo gallery, photographer Shawn Baldwin looks at the essential work being done in just one Kuwaiti-supported clinic in northern Lebanon. The small Al Nahda Primary Health Care Clinic in the town of Beddawi has a staff of seven doctors and one nurse. Between 600 and 700 people seek medical attention there every month and the clinic meets the needs of some of the most vulnerable refugees.

Kuwaiti Funds Provide Vital Medical Aid for Syrians in Lebanon

Author Hosseini in Afghanistan

UNHCR Goodwill Envoy Khaled Hosseini visited Afghanistan in early September and saw first-hand one of the UN refugee agency's largest and most complex operations. During a 10-day trip, the best-selling author visited UNHCR projects and met returnees in the northern provinces of Kunduz, Baghlan, Balkh, Parwan and Kabul. Hosseini, a former Afghan refugee now settled in the United States, noted that it would take time and effort for Afghanistan to provide returnees with adequate infrastructure and services. He urged the international community to remain committed to Afghanistan and to give the country time. Hosseini could not visit the south and parts of the east, where insecurity is impacting on the ability of UNHCR to assess needs and provide assistance to those who need it the most. Since 2003, UNHCR has helped more than 4 million refugees return to Afghanistan. This year, some 300,000 Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan. More than 900,000 remain in Iran and 2 million in Pakistan.

Author Hosseini in Afghanistan

Syria: A Heartbreaking Human Tragedy

As the conflict in Syria grinds on, UNHCR and its partners are calling on donors to dig deep to help refugees and host communities.

Switzerland: Kuwait Donates US$ 100 Million to the Syria Crisis

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees welcomes the State of Kuwait's contribution of US$ 100 million to support UNHCR operations aiding Syrians.

UN Appeals for Syria Operations

Faced with the prospect of a worsening situation inside Syria and growing numbers of refugees in 2014, UN agencies on Monday December 16, 2013 appealed to donors for US$6.5 billion in funds – the biggest amount so far requested for a single humanitarian emergency.